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Contingencies and restrictions (Details Textual) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2017
Mar. 24, 2017
Aug. 26, 2016
Lawsuits, litigation status   Filing of the case, processing suspended.          
Level of consolidated financial indicators required by the Company to comply with   To maintain Leverage Ratio not higher than 1.2 times at its strictest level. The Leverage ratio is defined as the Total Liabilities divided by Total Equity.          
Taxes, interests and other charges       $ 8,100      
Payments for taxes, interests and other charges $ 1,400   $ 50,000,000        
Penalties payable as percentage of taxes paid   50% and 300%          
Tax contingency, amount claimed           $ 14,400 $ 17,800
Tax contingency, amount under dispute   $ 32,200          
Tax contingency, amount under dispute correspond to excess charge levied   7,000          
Expected claim for differences in specific tax on mining activities   57,000          
Guarantee obligations   $ 712          
Description of lawsuits received   The Company and its subsidiaries have received no legal notice on lawsuits other than those indicated above, which exceed US$0.2 million.          
Soquimich Comercial S.A. [Member]              
Lawsuits, damages owed, value   $ 1,200          
Collateral Security Carrying Value   $ 9,423     $ 12,103    
Lawsuit one [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Nancy Erika Urra Muñoz,          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   Fresia Flores Zamorano, Duratec-Vinilit S.A. and the Company and their Insurers.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   December 2008.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   1st Civil Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Labor Accident.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Judgment favorable for the Company. Dated March 11, 2016. Appeal filed by the plaintiff which has not been pronounced on. Awaiting notification of the sentence, case filed on December 28, 2016          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$550.          
Lawsuit two [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   City of Pomona, California USA.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM North America Corporation (“SQM NA”).          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   December 2010.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   United States District Court Central District of California.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Payment of expenses and other amounts related to the treatment of groundwater to allow for its consumption by removing the existing perchlorate in such groundwater that allegedly comes from Chilean fertilizers.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On May 17, 2018, district judge Gary Klausner sentenced in favor of SQM NA following the verdict of the jury. On September 14, 2018, the plaintiff filed a motion to appeal, which is pending resolution.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$32,000.          
Lawsuit three [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   City of Lindsay, California USA.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM NA and the Company (still not noticed)          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   December 2010.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   United States District Court Eastern District of California.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Payment of expenses and other amounts related to the treatment of groundwater to allow for its consumption by removing the existing perchlorate in such groundwater that allegedly comes from Chilean fertilizers.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Not possible to determine.          
Lawsuit four [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   H&V Van Mele N.V.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   NV Euroports, SQM Europe N.V. and its insurance companies,          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   July 2013.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Commercial Court of Dendermonde,          
Lawsuits, allegations   Alleged indirect responsibility for the absence of adequate specifications for the SOP–WS by the Belgian distributor.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Sentencing against NV Euroports and subsidy SQM Europe N.V., for EUR 206,675.91. Appeal presented in November 2017.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$430.          
Lawsuit five [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Carlos Aravena Carrizo et al.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Nitratos S.A. (“SQM Nitratos”) and its insurers.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   May 2014.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   18th Civil Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit seeking compensation for damages for alleged civil liability under tort as a result of an explosion that occurred during 2010 near Baquedano, causing the death of 6 employees.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Summons to hear sentence          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$1,235.          
Lawsuit six [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Evt Consulting SpA.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Nitratos.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   October 2014.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   23th Civil Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit seeking compensation for damages related to the termination of the purchase and sale agreement for metallic structures.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On November 13, 2017, the Santiago Appeals Court sentenced SQM Nitratos S.A. to pay US$304,620. An appeal in form and substance was presented before the Supreme Court in December 2017.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$835.          
Lawsuit seven [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   SQM Salar S.A. (“SQM Salar”) and the Company.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   Seguros Generales Suramericana S.A. (formerly - RSA Seguros Chile S.A.)          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   August 29, 2016.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Arbitration Court – Arbitrator Mr. Gonzalo Fernández.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Complaint for forced compliance and collection of indemnification for insurance claim of February 7 and 8, 2013.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Evidence stage.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$20,658.          
Lawsuit eight [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Tyne and Wear Pension Fund as represented by the Council of the Borough of South Tyneside acting as Lead Plaintiff.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   The Company          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   Date : January 2016.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   United States District Court – Southern District of New York.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Alleged damage to ADS holders of the Company resulting from alleged noncompliance with the securities regulations in the United States by the Company.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Initial stage of disclosure of background information.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Not determined.          
Lawsuit nine [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Ernesto Saldaña González et al.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Salar S.A., SQM Industrial S.A. (“SQM Industrial”) and their insurance companies.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   May 2016.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   13th Civil Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit seeking compensation for damages for alleged civil liability under tort law arising from the accident that occurred in July 2014 in the María Elena location.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Summons to hear sentence          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$515.          
Lawsuit ten [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   María Yolanda Achiardi Tapia et al.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Salar and its insurance companies and other 5 defendants          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   February 2015.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   1st Civil Court of Antofagasta.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit seeking compensation for damages for alleged civil liability under tort law arising from a traffic accident that occurred in April 2011 in the city of Antofagasta.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Summons to hear sentence.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$1,265.          
Lawsuit eleven [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   The Company          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   AES Gener S.A. (“Gener”) and Empresa Eléctrica Cochrane SpA (“Cochrane”).          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   May 11, 2017.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Arbitration award in accordance with the arbitration rules established by the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (“CAM).          
Lawsuits, allegations   Request for the interpretation of an electricity supply agreement alleging the right by the plaintiff to receive a collection in conformity with such agreement.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Evidentiary stage.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Not determined.          
Lawsuit twelve [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Gener and Cochrane.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   The Company.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   May 2017.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Arbitration in accordance with the rules established by the Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CAM).          
Lawsuits, allegations   Discrepancy with respect to the amount of an alleged right by the plaintiff to receive a collection in conformity with the agreement entered into by the parties.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Evidentiary stage.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Not determined.          
Lawsuit thirteen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Transportes Buen Destino          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Salar.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   None.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Arbitration in accordance with the rules established by the Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CAM).          
Lawsuits, allegations   Discrepancies generated in the implementation of the following contracts entered into between TBD and SQM Salar: (i) lithium brine transportation; and (ii) salt transportation.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Prior stage. The audience for setting procedure rules is pending          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Undetermined.          
Lawsuit fourteen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Castillo, Hernán et al.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   Servicios Integrales de Tránsitos y Transferencias S.A. and SQM Industrial S.A.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   September 15, 2017.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   1st Labor Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit to assert labor rights, seeking collection of wages owed and other amounts.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On August 24, 2018, a judgment is issued rejecting the application in its entirety. On September 6, 2018, plaintiffs deduct an appeal for nullity before the Santiago Court of Appeals, which is still in branch.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$1,940.          
Lawsuit fifteen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Acosta Tapia, Eloisa del Tránsito and others as successors and assigns of Araya Castillo, Raimundo del Rosario.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   SQM Salar.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   January 19, 2018.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   2nd Labor Court of Santiago.          
Lawsuits, allegations   Lawsuit for damages for pain and suffering as a result of occupational illness.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On October 22, the final ruling was issued, wherein the claim was denied. The plaintiff filed an appeal for annulment, which is pending with the Court of Appeals of Santiago          
Lawsuits, nominal value   ThUS$472.          
Lawsuit sixteen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Asociación Indígena Consejo Pueblos Atacameños and others.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   Corfo, the Company, SQM Salar and SQM Potasio S.A.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   February 15, 2018.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Santiago Court of Appeals          
Lawsuits, allegations   Appeal requesting annulment of modifications to contracts signed by the defendants on January 17, 2018.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On September 25, the Court of Appeals of Santiago rejected the appeal for protection. On October 12, the Supreme Court ordered the revision of the appeal filed by the appellants.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Undetermined.          
Lawsuit seventeen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   The Society.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   Office of the Superintendent of the Environment (“SMA”)          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   20 July 2017          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Second Environmental Court of Santiago          
Lawsuits, allegations   Motion for review filed by the Company against ruling rejecting the compliance program for the Pampa Hermosa project.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   On August 21, 2018, the Second Environmental Court of Santiago accepted the Company’s claim and ordered the SMA to take the procedure back to the stage prior to their sentencing that rejected the compliance program. This ruling was appealed with the Supreme Court on August 8, 2018.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Amount involved: Undetermined.          
Lawsuit eighteen [Member]              
Lawsuits, name of plaintiff   Congresspersons Claudia Nathalie Mix Jiménez, Gael Fernanda Yeomans Araya, Camila Ruslay Rojas Valderrama et al.          
Lawsuits, name of defendant   CORFO. The entity has intervened as an independent third party.          
Lawsuits, lawsuit filing date   September 6, 2018.          
Lawsuits, domicile of litigation   Special Magistrate, Mr. Alejandro Madrid Crohare.          
Lawsuits, allegations   To render null and void the contract for the Salar de Atacama Project signed between CORFO and SQM Salar.          
Lawsuits, litigation status   Pending ruling on dilatory pleas and independent third-party status of companies and subsidiaries.          
Lawsuits, nominal value   Undetermined.